Resident doctors'' strike at Safdarjung Hospital called off

New Delhi, January 14

The strike called by the resident doctors at Safdarjung Hospital was called off this evening after the administration agreed to their demand of increased security on the medical institution's premises.

Emergency services at the hospital this morning were affected as the doctors stayed away from work for the second day after a police head constable's son, who had come for treatment at the Centre-run hospital on Sunday, allegedly punched a doctor.

With patients facing a tough time, Additional Secretary Sanjeeva Kumar at the Health Ministry today held a meeting with officials from the hospital administration and a delegation of resident doctors. In the meeting, it was decided that 18 marshals will be deployed as an interim arrangement.

In addition, the proposal for 30 extra marshals will be submitted by the hospital for approval to the Health Ministry, the minutes of the meeting said.

While selecting these marshals, a representative from the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) will also be associated.

Additional 100 security guards from the SSB will be deployed immediately and a committee will also be formed which will submit its report within two weeks after assessing the requirement of a number of security guards and marshals at the hospital premises, said the Ministry officials adding that they will also look into the demands for hostel rooms made by the RDA.

Patients this morning alleged that they were facing a harrowing time due to the paucity of doctors even as senior faculty members and para-medical staff tried to keep services running at the emergency department.

Today, an 18-year-year accident victim, who was admitted to the hospital's emergency section on Saturday, succumbed to injuries with his family alleging that he had not received proper treatment because of the strike. He was referred to Safdarjung from a hospital in Gurgaon.

"My brother was referred to this hospital on Saturday and on Sunday the resident doctor went on strike after which patients were not being attended to properly.

"We also requested that our brother is referred to another hospital but nothing was done and he died this morning," the elder brother of the deceased said.

In another incident, a family alleged that a 20-year-old woman died after not getting treatment on time.

But, a member of the RDA refrained from commenting on whether there was any connection between the deaths and the strike. — PTI